In late 1971, in his first months as director of the Everson Museum, James Harithas appointed recent Syracuse University graduate David Ross as curator for the emerging medium of video.

Groundbreaking programs in 1970 had paved the way for this decision. The Everson's was the first ever video department in a museum. It was a bold and visionary move for the institution and the individuals who were leading it. The Everson would present nearly 100 videos and video installations by the time the department was closed in 1981.

Now, nearly 40 years later, video is as common as snowflakes in Syracuse in January. Some artists, however, already working to elevate the medium in the 1970s, continue to create stunning, transformational work today. One of those is Bill Viola, certainly the most influential video artist today.

Not surprisingly, Viola's early work is part of the Everson's history; he was showing his work at the Everson before he had even graduated from Syracuse University in 1973. His first solo exhibition, "New Video Works," took place in the Everson galleries in December of that same year.

On Oct. 14, former classmates Ross and Viola -- the curator and the artist -- will meet for a public conversation at the Everson Museum of Art. It will mark the launch of the Everson Museum as an Urban Video Project site, with the north face of the museum on community plaza serving as the screen.

Viola's "Quintet of the Astonished" will be the Everson's inaugural UVP projection. The video, which was completed in 2000, captures changing facial expressions and movement of five actors in extreme slow motion. It reveals Viola's interest in Old Master paintings and draws on their powerful ability to communicate emotion.

In addition, a selection of historic Viola videos from the Everson's pioneering collection will be shown in the museum. "Bill Viola in Conversation with David Ross" is a collaborative program of Syracuse University, Light Work, the Urban Video Project, and the Everson Museum of Art.

It will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 14 in the Everson's Hosmer Auditorium. The program will be followed by a reception on the plaza and a viewing of "The Quintet of the Astonished." The Urban Video Project runs Thursdays through Sundays, from dusk to 11 p.m. "The Quintet of the Astonished" runs through Oct. 31.